The Reality of Selective Education

Name : Hoh Tjin Li

Class : S4A

School Num. : 08160

Book Call Num. :

Book Title : The Reality of Selective Education

Author : Ray Bryant

Publication Year/ (Edition) : 1999

Sypnosis

In this book, Bryant examines the differing styles of discipline and questions whether teachers fully understand the fears and aspirations of their pupils. Drawing from his own experiences, he discusses the growth of hostility towards testing, the problems of selecting pupils from different backgrounds and perhaps controversially he questions the supposed injustice of some children being chosen as an elite group.

Message to the readers

There is actually pros and cons in the application of selective education. For the pros, Selective education produces better results. Studies have shown that children of equal ability at age 11 go on to have different results at 18, depending on whether they were at a selective school or at a school with children of a mix of abilities. Besides, Selective education recognize that children have different needs.

While for the cons, the plan of selective education is flawed in that not all children who are good at English are good at Mathematics, for example. Streaming allows a child to be in a high-ability class for one subject and a remedial class for another, which is not possible in a fully selective school. Yet the main objection is that the system is shockingly and openly elitist. Education is a right, not a privilege. A good education should be available to all, not just the elitist while the majority are left to rot.

Opinion

Despite, the many arguments that justify a mixed-ability school I still think that the argument that students have a right to learn in a school with students on the same intellectual plane as them overrides anything. When we separate the students according to their ability we aren't discriminatory or denigrating others, by saying that there are an elite few that deserve to have the privilege of a better education. The elite students deserve to be in a school that caters for their abilities, as this would be of immediate benefit to them than repeating information that they've alreadt grasped well. The education system would improve if we had selective schools as the teachers would be able to focus on a group of students of the same ability, then having to cater for student's varying abilities.

Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C

School No : 07044

Book Call No : F AHE

Book Title : The Book of Tomorrow

Author : Cecilia Ahern

Publication Year : 2010

Setting

A glamorous town life is swapped for the country as Tamara's father passes away and she has meek it out with her mother in their relatives house. Yet it is here that she realises more about herself than she ever thought.

Character

Tamara Goodwin was a spoilt child who always got what she wanted. Why would she give a thought to tomorrow? But suddenly life takes a difficult turn, and she faces the hard decision to swap for a life in the country. Soon, she's lonely and longs for her old life.

Conflict

A travelling library that arrived in the village brought with it a mysterious leather-bound book locked with a gold-clasp and a padlock. Little did Tamara know that it would take her on a journey of self-discovery, as the words between its pages show her what tomorrow will bring for her, and takes her breath away.

Conclusion

Tamara learns to accept the life that has been given to her and make the most of it. She realises that by making otheres happy, she is happy too.

Opinion

Tomorrow can change what happens today.

Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C

School No : 07044

Book Call No : F PER

Book Title : Little Children

Author: Tom Perrota

Setting

This story is set in a little suburban town, where nieghbours know each other. Which means conflicts and insecurities are very hard to hide.

Character

A few parents of young children are portrayed inn this novel. Todd, the stay-at-home dad dubbed the Prom King by the mothers at the playground, his wife Kathy, a documentary film maker who just wants to spend more time with her son, Sarah, a lapsed feminist surprised to find that she's become a typical wife in a traditional marriage, her husband, Richard, who's more involved in an Internet fantasy life than his own real life etc.

Conflict

All these parents raise their kids as they see fit in the little suburb where nothing ever seems to happen. until one summer, when a convicted child molester moves in. the parents question everything they do, and everyone they know, and realise nothing is what it seems, as two parents begin an affair that none of them could have imagined.

Conclusion

Some marriages are torn, because they were never meant to be together in the first place. they learn that behind those rose-tinted sunglasses, the world is not as rosy as they were taught to see.

Opinion

This story exposes a surprising sight of a familiar world.

Name : Amanda Lo Class : S5C

School No : 07044

Book Call No : F GRO

Book Title : Marley and Me

Author: John Grogan

Publication Year: 2006

Setting

The main setting is in the Grogan household, where a couple, young and deeply in love, decide to add another member in their family- a canine one, that is. what they didn't ask for is the antics, good or bad, that come with that little bundle of yellow fur.

Character

Marley

Named after a famous singer in the 80-s, Marley the Labrador Retreiver quickly grew into an uncontrollable furball of a dog, that would eventually prove to worm his way into the hearts of everyone who knew him.

John

Marley's owner, who grew up and grew wiser with Marley by his side. He learns to appreciate Marley just the way he is.

Conflict

Expelled from Obedience school, Marley was uncontrollable. even the tranquilisers prescribed by the vet couldn't stop him. Yet through the chaos, and hilarity, chewed toys and destroyed garages, he won hearts and remained a steadfast model of devotion to his family, even when the were at their wits end.

Conclusion

Unconditional love, the family realises, comes in many forms, be it a yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley.

Opinion

Dogs prove time and time again, that they are truly are a man's best friend.